I spent five years at Forbes writing about business and leadership, attracting nearly one million unique visitors to Forbes.com each month. While here, I assistant edited the annual World’s 100 Most Powerful Women package and helped launch and grow ForbesWoman.com. I've appeared on CBS, CNBC, MSNBC and E Entertainment and speak often at conferences and events on women's leadership topics. I graduated summa cum laude from New York University with degrees in journalism and sociology and was honored with a best in business award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) in 2012. My work has appeared in Businessweek, Ladies’ Home Journal, The Aesthete and Acura Style. I live in New York City with my husband and can be found on Twitter @Jenna_Goudreau, Facebook, and Google+.

Success Secrets Of The World's Most Powerful Women

When my great-grandmother was born in the early 1900s, women couldn’t vote in a national election. She was barely expected to finish high school, and the idea that she could attend college was pure fantasy—practically unheard of for a woman then. She was considered a pioneer at the time because she had the gall to divorce her husband. And later, when she took a job as a secretary she was quite literally propositioned daily and chased around the desk by male managers.

Those were the days when, with more women becoming typists and telephone operators, society was grappling with questions like: How do we protect these virtuous women from the uncontrollable nature of men in the office? And: How do we keep our husbands from running off with their secretaries?

We’ve come incredibly far incredibly fast. Even just 30 years ago, there’d be only one or two women in an MBA lecture class.

When Ertharin Cousin, the newly appointed executive director of the World Food Programme, graduated law school in 1982, a professor pulled her aside and told her she needed to look like a man because it was important she not let being a woman hurt her ability to represent a client. So for years she wore gray and black shapeless suits, bowties and little to no jewelry.

For her, progress was measured in color. She told me the first time she interviewed for a job in a bright red suit was when she truly felt like a confident woman who could bring herself to the job.

I’ve heard countless stories. Women trying to run businesses who had their heads patted by men who thought their efforts were “cute.” Women gunning for the c-suite who would walk into meetings and be asked to fetch coffee.

Those days are gone. Today we are expected to attend university. We are encouraged to pursue business, law or be our own bosses. We can wear red and be feminine and still get the job done. It’s an incredible sea change in just the last century.

But for all of our progress, we’re still worlds away from equal. While women have infiltrated the ranks of middle management, while some are becoming CEOs and world leaders, the percentage of those at the top remains miniscule. Only 4% of the world’s major corporations are led by women. Let me put that another way: Men still run 96% of our biggest companies. And most of their advisors are other men. On average, women are just 15% of executives and corporate officers.

Yet women represent half of the world’s population, thus are half of the world’s customers. Isn’t it just good business that they drive at least half of the decisions?

Now, not everyone wants to be CEO—I get that. It’s a lot of responsibility, and maybe that’s not your goal. But almost every working woman is still impacted by a lingering wage gap. In most developed countries, women still earn 80 to 85 cents for every dollar earned by men. Even when you compare men and women with the same education, in the same industry, even in the same job—women earn less. And the gap widens with age. A 20-something woman makes 90% of what a 20-something man makes. Not great—but not that bad either. Thirty years later, she’s making 75% as much as him.

We also know that women don’t get promoted as much or as quickly. A man must show that he’s capable of performing at the next level—that he has the potential. However, a woman must already be performing at that level in order to get promoted into it. So what you see is equal numbers of men and women at the bottom and as you move up the ladder, fewer and fewer women.

It’s not good for women or their companies to get left behind. Because here’s what happens when you’re no longer challenged: You’re bored. Your energy’s not as high. It’s hard to get motivated. If you find yourself with the choice to stay home with the kids vs. stay in a job that’s not stretching you…home starts looking pretty good.

It’s not fair, but for now it’s a reality that all too many face. You can be the change. You can manage your own career—by knowing what people make in your job and asking for it; by understanding the value of your product and charging it; by recognizing when it’s time to move up and fighting for it; by not only working hard and exceeding expectations, but letting people know about it.

You can also help cultivate the careers of other women—by not underpaying her, by putting her name in the hat, by offering advice when she needs it and by opening a door when she’s earned it.

My grandmother fought for a world in which women got a chance. That’s why we’re all here today. I want to give my daughter a world where women have a path—where they are rewarded for good work, where they are heard when they speak, where they have every opportunity to shape the decisions that shape our lives.

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.

Comments

Great article/speech! It really shines a light on areas where women need to seize the moment. I suffer from not speaking up enough. I’m concerned with coming off too aggressive, but sometimes that’s needed to get the ball rolling! One of my biggest lessons learned is realizing the worst thing they can say is, “No.” That’s it, and my being ok with that allows me to ask more from our staff.

Great article/speech! It really shines a light on areas where women need to seize the opportunity. I suffer from not speaking up enough. I’m concerned with coming off too aggressive, but sometimes that’s needed to get the ball rolling! One of my biggest lessons learned is realizing the worst thing they can say is, “No.” That’s it, and my being ok with that allows me to ask more from our staff.

I feel the same way. I don’t know if it’s engrained in women to speak less than they should, but I think women are less sure of themselves, or don’t want to appear pushy. Aggressiveness can be good when done right, we need to embrace it.

Many thanks for sharing your fantastic article/speech, and the great, tried-and-true advice of these phenomenal women. It is so very timely for me personally, in this period of my life, specifically this day.

Very inspirational article, thank you. having worked in the states for over five years, I found I got a ‘yes’ so much more than a ‘no’. On returning to my birthplace of London and starting my own business here as it spans many sectors is incredibly challenging, I constantly hear ‘you can’t do that’ when someone says that to you it just mean they ‘can’t do that.’ So really go for what you believe is right for women in business ‘gut-instinct’ is a very good indicator, because it is related to our feelings, and if you have passion for your idea and your ideals you will make it happen, and not in a ruthless way.

I’m may be 16, but this article has given me a whole lot of inspiration. I’ve always been a big dreamer and being mediocre is a total NO! NO! for me, but every now and then a fact turns up in my head saying , the most successful people are all basically men. And to be truthful it did intimidate me a little. Now come to think of it , its all how we look at things. So thank you very much for this perception changing article, it has totally taught me a lot. Thanks.

What a wonderful article! I am in the category of women who always expresses her opinion at work (at home etc), who says no and hears no a lot more often. The financial crisis, the tough markets, the lower budgets in most companies, the start of my own family: they all slowed down my career in the last months and I did not even realise that I am starting to lose interest, that I stopped getting myself challenged. Maybe some of my goals are not going to be achieved right now, but I can prepare myself to achieve them at a later stage, when conditions will be more favorable. I read the article when I was on the train going from Zurich to Bern to attend a professional seminar that I wanted to attend in the last two years, but which my boss rejected over and over again because we are busy or there is not enough budget etc (as I said I hear ‘no’ often). When I got back to work after six months of maternity leave I thought that’s it I AM GOING to that seminar even, if I pay for it myself, even if I stay one night away from my family. I arranged for extra childcare and I went there during my personal time. Cause NO was suddenly not an answer for that topic. I read this article on the train as I said and so many things came clear to my head. Τhe two day seminar was great and I feel so more confident with the knowledge gained there. I am going to get back to work on Monday and get challenged again! And probably hear a lot more No’s. Thank you!